What role does a parrot's tongue play in feeding?

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Illustration of a rock parakeet (Pyrrhura rupicola) perched on a branch, showing green plumage with scalloped markings, a patch of red on the wing, and a dark beak. — Psittaciform Black-capped parakeet (*Pyrrhura rupicola*).

A parrot's tongue is a highly manipulative organ that plays a critical role in feeding by helping the bird hold and maneuver food items.1

When a parrot consumes seeds, the tongue works in tandem with filelike ridges on the undersurface of the upper bill to secure the seed in place. This allows the bird to use the cutting edge of its lower bill to peel away the seed's outer cover.1

The tongue is typically short, thick, and fleshy, with specialized structures at the tip depending on the species. For instance, some parrots possess a brushlike fringe of terminal papillae, which functions similarly to a paintbrush to collect and hold juices.1